Best Way to Clean Your iPad and iPhone in 2026

It’s important to clean your phone and tablet, but not just any chemical will work.

A clean iPad or iPhone isn’t just about appearances. In the cockpit, a smudge-free screen is easier to read in bright sunlight, often lets you run a lower screen brightness to save battery life, and makes it easier to zoom, pan, and enter flight plan changes without leaving fingerprints across the display.

Whether you’re flying with your own iPad or using a shared device at a flight school, it’s worth taking a minute to clean your screen the right way.

The important part is using the right cleaning products. Modern iPads and iPhones have fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coatings, and some models also feature anti-reflective or nano-texture glass. Using the wrong cleaner can damage those finishes over time.

Start with Apple’s advice

Apple’s recommendations remain refreshingly simple.

For virtually every iPad and iPhone, Apple recommends:

• Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free microfiber cloth.
• Avoid getting moisture into openings or ports.
• Never use window cleaners, household cleaners, compressed air, aerosol sprays, ammonia, solvents, abrasives, bleach, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide.

Apple also notes that the oleophobic coating naturally wears over time, and aggressive scrubbing or abrasive cleaners will accelerate that wear.

What about the nano-texture iPad Pro?

If you’re using an iPad Pro with Apple’s optional nano-texture display, there is one important exception.

Apple recommends cleaning these displays first with the polishing cloth that came with the iPad. For stubborn smudges, you can lightly moisten that cloth with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution. That’s a change from earlier guidance and is specific to nano-texture displays.

When you need to disinfect

Sometimes removing fingerprints isn’t enough.

Apple says it’s acceptable to use:

• 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes
• 75% ethyl alcohol wipes
• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes

Gently wipe the hard, nonporous exterior surfaces, including the display, but avoid excessive moisture and never submerge the device or spray cleaner directly onto it.

Everyday cleaning

For routine cockpit use, we still prefer an alcohol-free electronic screen cleaner paired with a quality microfiber cloth. These products are excellent for removing fingerprints, dust, and smudges without being harsh on display coatings.

If you’re trying to kill germs, however, alcohol-based wipes remain the better choice.

What about panel-mounted avionics

The same general cleaning rule applies to certified avionics.

The same general rule applies to certified avionics.

Garmin, Avidyne, and Dynon all caution against ammonia-based cleaners. When disinfecting is necessary, a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution (or diluted 91% IPA) is generally preferred over household glass cleaners.

Additional tips

If your iPad spends a lot of time in the cockpit, a quality screen protector is inexpensive insurance. Besides protecting against scratches, many premium protectors hold up well to repeated cleaning and make it less stressful to wipe the screen after every flight.

Keep a microfiber cloth and a couple of alcohol wipes in your flight bag, and you’ll always have a clear view of your charts—whether you’re shooting an approach on a sunny afternoon or handing the iPad to the next pilot.

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Eric Radtke

It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed. Eric now manages Sporty’s media network. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.

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